DANVILLE, Ill. (WAND) - In a city of just under 29,000 residents, Danville, Illinois isn’t used to the spotlight.
This week, there’s a spark in the air — the kind of magic only one man could leave behind. Danville's favorite son, Dick Van Dyke turns 100 years old on Dec. 13.
Inside Danville High School, theater students are honoring Van Dyke. They are rehearsing dance numbers across the same stage where a young Dick Van Dyke once performed back in the 1940s.
Long before he tap-danced across London rooftops in Mary Poppins, or soared the countryside in "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," Van Dyke was a teenager discovering his love for performing right here at home.
“It means a lot to me to know that we're on a stage that he would be on too,” said senior Serenity Reid.
“It gives a lot of hope,” added fellow senior Bryce Martin. “Knowing that someone from here, from the same place that I'm from, has made it somewhere so far.”
To these students, Van Dyke’s legacy is more than Hollywood history — it’s proof that someone from a rural community can dream big.
Senior Macy Musgrave said she admires how Van Dyke’s personality always shone through: “He’s just a fun character, and he doesn’t let the big Hollywood stages diminish that about him.”
Around town, the admiration is just as strong. Danville residents are proudly celebrating the legendary performer’s 100th birthday with screenings, music and a community-wide tribute to Van Dyke.
At the historic Fischer Theatre on Saturday, crowds gathered to sing "Happy Birthday," surrounded by memorabilia that spans Van Dyke’s remarkable career. Executive Director Ashton Greer said the theater has “a ton of memorabilia” on display, from original photos and paintings to a telephone used on "The Dick Van Dyke Show" set.
Former Danville High School theater director Marty Lindvahl has spent years sharing Van Dyke’s story with students. “He’s magical. There is something about him that’s magical,” Lindvahl said. “He’s just timeless.”
The celebration also sparked a wave of nostalgia among longtime fans.
Locals recalled their favorite Van Dyke performances — "Mary Poppins," "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show" topping the list. Some even remembered the time he surprised the Danville High School cast in 2004, walking onto the stage mid-rehearsal and singing "Put On a Happy Face."
Even at 100, Van Dyke’s ties to his hometown remain strong.
For students like Musgrave, that pride is mutual.
“Showing that you can come from a rural community and still make it to the big stages is a really big part of being a role model,” Musgrave said.
As Danville gathers to honor a century of laughter, music and joy, the message is clear: greatness can be kind, can be full of joy and can begin in the quietest corners of America.
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